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Digital Spy Forums - Blogs http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php Entertainment, showbiz and digital TV discussions on the Digital Spy Forums. en Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:51:44 GMT vBulletin 60 http://images.digitalspy.co.uk/forum/misc/rss.jpg Digital Spy Forums - Blogs http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php Desperately seeking... http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3065 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:35:50 GMT It's been a while again... Lots of changes in my life recently... Moved out of London, living in a pretty village, moved in with a new partner, got a job interview for a big promotion so all should be fine. But it's not :(
I really want sleep, I really want to feel secure and I want to feel that I have done the right thing. I don't know what to think now. I have come off the nicotine patches and I do not think that it has helped. Maybe I should put one back on.
I want to be a supportive, selfless loving person, and maybe I am not. Maybe I am so screwed up that it is all just me being stupid and throwing away the things, the person, I want because I am mindful of being hurt again. In my mind I am not doing this, but I seem to be imperfect now and I just see the bad things in what I do. I really want tonnes of fags and a bottle of jack and some very cheesy snacks - i.e. all the things I should not want. None of them will provide the answer, nor will they help. I need the happiness I felt yesterday when I felt strong and happy and full of purpose. I just do not see how the smallest of issues seems to have magnified into this sort of doubt.
Anyway, I have bored you all enough with this. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel better, not so full of self pity.
Toodle pip... ]]> vigilantduck http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3065 The Eurosceptics dilemma http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3064 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:34:16 GMT Dear DS Blog Agony Aunties (and Uncles), While I am somewhat placated by Cameron’s statement today (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/6502361/EU-Lisbon-Treaty-David-Cameron-promises-vote-on-future-EU-changes.html), I am, as a Eurosceptic, uncertain. :confused: I think that another 5 years of Brown would be awful.:mad: However, I live in a Labour-held, marginal constituency, the sort which the Tories must win for Cameron to have the slightest chance to be PM. But the Tory candidate is, to my certain knowledge, a long standing europhile :eek:. I do not trust this person to support Cameron on EU issues at all. If I vote Tory, I help get rid of Brown, but may give the message that loving the EU is acceptable to me, when its not. Do I vote UKIP (I could never vote for the unpleasant and socialistic BNP)? Yours “Agonised” Dear DS Blog Agony Aunties (and Uncles),

While I am somewhat placated by Cameron’s statement today, I am, as a Eurosceptic, uncertain. :confused:

I think that another 5 years of Brown would be awful.:mad:

However, I live in a Labour-held, marginal constituency, the sort which the Tories must win for Cameron to have the slightest chance to be PM.

But the Tory candidate is, to my certain knowledge, a long standing europhile :eek:. I do not trust this person to support Cameron on EU issues at all.

If I vote Tory, I help get rid of Brown, but may give the message that loving the EU is acceptable to me, when its not.

Do I vote UKIP (I could never vote for the unpleasant and socialistic BNP)?

Yours

“Agonised” ]]> Sage Vals http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3064 New update http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3063 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:30:26 GMT Went today and now after to go for mir in 2-3 so that will be next task, also did my biggest task today walked home from hoz with mum took 20 mins as well as sit in a very busy waiting room, so i think i have done really well, x Went today and now after to go for mir in 2-3 so that will be next task, also did my biggest task today walked home from hoz with mum took 20 mins as well as sit in a very busy waiting room, so i think i have done really well, x ]]> Cal2008 http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3063 <![CDATA[Deal or No Deal Season 5 Review: Weeks 9 & 10 (Oct 19 - Nov 2)]]> http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3061 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:44:05 GMT Welcome to the fifth instalment of this review of the fifth season of Deal or No Deal, which includes the first of the special weeks, Halloween. *_Week 9_* The Banker described *Laura* from Durham perfectly: ‘she’s like honey covered in candy floss, because it makes you puke.’ She brought a soft toy duck called Harold with her, and it became part of the game at eight-box when the Banker said he would double the offer from £8,000 to £16,000 if she gave him Harold so he could decapitate him. Laura refused the offer and played on. At five-box with £35k and £20k being the only good amounts left, Laura turned down £5,000 and it proved to be a great decision as the two good amounts stayed to the end. The Banker whipped out his ‘old faithful’ £26,000 but it didn’t work on Laura, who went on to become the first person in season 5 to go to the end and win a power five sum! Greek Cypriot *Nicholas* was YET ANOTHER HAIRDRESSER! Seriously, in a couple of years’ time everyone in the hair industry will have been on this show. Anyway, despite jumping around the studio like a maniac Nicholas wasn’t having the luckiest of games and by the second break the power five had been wiped out. With £20k, £5k and three blues left at five-box, Nicholas dealt at £3,000. However, the two reds happened to stay to the end and Nicholas could have won £11,000. Some could say it was shear bad luck. Despite being an old dear, *Bessie* clearly wasn’t providing Noel with an enjoyable game, as he was even forced to revive the dreaded blue chant (which didn’t work by the way). At five-box, Bessie had £75k and four blues remaining, so the Banker predictably told her that she may have an offer after every box in the next round. Bessie dealt at a three-box offer of £17,500, but when a blue then went, she was offered the Banker’s Gamble, hence rendering a No Deal at that £17,500 offer completely pointless! Bessie didn’t take the Gamble, but it was still a shambles of a game. *Carol*’s game wasn’t proving all that exciting (Noel had resorted to randomly asking players where they were from), so when it transpired she was a Status Quo fan there was a predictable outburst of puns which none of the younger viewers got. At eight-box, the Banker offered Carol £22,000, but after some negotiations, he raised it to £26,000. After dealing at that, Carol revealed that she would have taken the £22,000, hence infuriating the Banker. Despite the last two boxes being £20k and £35k, the Banker didn’t offer his Gamble (saving the gimmicks for next week perhaps?). The show ended with a different piece of music, which was presumably a Status Quo song. Noel and the Banker fell out in *Dan*’s game over the Banker’s mistake with Carol, prompting Noel to go on one of his prolonged strops. He sat with the pilgrims and even asking one of them to ask Dan the question at the third offer. Meanwhile, Dan’s game wasn’t going well, especially seeing as the power five had disappeared by the second break. Things didn’t improve, and the last two amounts were £1,000 and 50p. Dan turned down £220, but managed to avoid becoming a member of Dennis’s 50p club. Tantalisingly missing out on Halloween week was *Aurora*, and it was only her 15th game! Noel kept poking fun at Aurora’s shyness, which was irritating because it’s actually nice to have the occasional player who doesn’t scream after every blue. Sadly though Aurora had the unluckiest game of the season so far. Her highest offer was just £2,500 (which incidentally was her opening offer) and she went on to become the 24th member of the 1p club! Halloween had started early... *Week 9 average payout: £13,750.00* *Summary*: It was a week which started at one end of the scale (a power five win) and finished at the other end (a 1p win). The games in between were pretty forgettable though. *_Week 10:_ Halloween (Mon to Fri)* Well they haven’t spared any expense for this week of specials. Not only are Noel and the players dressed up in the usual over-the-top gear, but we’ve even got an amended, spooky title sequence and theme, as well as a range of ‘scary’ sound effects and graphics during the game. The studio is designed to look like a haunted house, and the boxes are a weird ghostly colour. There’s even a portrait of all 24 members of the 1p club! At five-box, the player has to choose the ashes of either the Banker’s grandma or his grandpa. One contains a Treat, the other a Trick. As usual, a Treat means the player gets an offer after every box and an additional prize, while a Trick means the Banker looks inside the player’s box (once it’s been escorted to him by Sir Dealalot of the Pound Table). First up was *Hassan*, originally from Cyprus. His first offer was a swap, which he declined. As is expected in these special shows, the eight-box offer was awful, so Hassan got to five-box, where the £50k, £15k and three blues were left. Hassan then became the first Halloween player ever to find a TRICK. The Banker claimed there was a red in his box, and offered £9,000. After lots of talk about mind games, the Banker increased it to £9,250, but Hassan still said No Deal. Left at the end were £1 and £15,000, and the Banker offered £1.50, which wasn’t even considered. There was indeed £15,000 in Hassan’s box, so the manufactured wins had started already. Lollipop lady *Lillian* had written her sizeable shopping list on a roll of toilet paper. Her five-box set-up included £75k, £35k, £5k and two blues. Then Lillian suddenly announced that before the game she had predicted a win of £75,000. Her chosen urn contained another TRICK, and after seeing the contents of Lillian’s box, the Banker offered £17,500, which Lillian accepted. However, the last two amounts were £750 and £75,000, and there were no prizes for guessing that the Banker’s Gamble was coming. Lillian declined the Gamble, but it transpired the £75,000 was actually in her box! In *David*’s game it was revealed that the Banker’s grandpa was named Titus Aduxus, and that the Banker’s family motto is ‘Nil Spankus Bankerus’. At five-box, David still had the £250k in play, along with £20k, £15k, £10k and £750. And for a third time in a row, a TRICK was found. The Banker claimed there was a red in David’s box, and made an offer of £15,000. Then a minute later he increased it to £30,000. Then a minute later he increased it to £40,000. David unsurprisingly chose to deal at that, but the £250,000 stayed to the end with £15,000, and the final offer would have been £100,000. Then a hypothetical swap was carried out and David’s new box contained £15,000. Is it just me or is this show edging worryingly close to another Alice-esque manufactured jackpot win? Noel started *Sarah*’s game by trying to wreck the studio after David’s mistake yesterday. Sarah’s lucky number was 5, so it featured heavily in all the offers. At five-box she had £100k, £20k, £15k and two blues on the board, and she managed to find a TREAT. Her treat was a weekend spa break for two, and she was offered £15,555. After turning it down, the £15,000 left the board, and the new offer was £17,555. Then the guaranteed offers started flowing but as usual they didn’t work and Sarah still dealt at £17,555. She could have won £25,000, in what wasn’t an exciting game. The last Trick or Treat player was *Gary*, who straight away launched into the story of how he once saved a woman from a fire. It would have been more impressive if he wasn’t a trained fire-fighter. Gary’s five-box consisted of £50k, £5k, £3k and two blues, and he was able to find a TREAT. The ‘treat’ however was - wait for it - a balloon flight. Gary turned down £7,000, but then the £50,000 left the game. Suddenly the ballooning trip looked like a decent prize. £900 was refused, then the £3,000 went and Gary was offered £1,300. Then the Banker asked if he could look in the box and Gary agreed. Unsurprisingly, the Banker claimed the £5,000 was in his box. Gary turned down the £1,300, and £5,000 and £750 were the last two amounts. The Banker offered £4,000, which going by percentage of mean is the best offer in the show’s history. Gary snapped it up in an instant. Unsurprisingly (in my opinion), his box actually contained the blue, and Noel called it one of the ‘best player victories ever’. Codswallop. We were back to normality on Sunday, when *Roli*, a baker from Suffolk, took to the Chair. As with all games in the show’s history which have featured a baker, there was no shortage of bread-related buns - I mean puns. Roli wasn’t having the best of luck, and at five-box £50,000 was the only decent amount left. Then the Banker told Roli that he would only need to open two more boxes before getting another offer. How original. Roli decided to go on, and he took the three-box offer of £7,000. However the £50,000 was in his box. You know it’s been a dull game when the puns were the highlight. *Week 10 average payout: £16,842.50* *Halloween average payout: £18,811.00* *Summary*: The Halloween specials were about as bad as expected. If the Banker’s going to use gimmicks, then he could at least start using some unpredictable ones. *SEASON 5 AVERAGE PAYOUT AS OF THE END OF WEEK 10: _£10,030.14_* Thanks again for reading. The next edition will kick off with the fourth anniversary special, so expect more whinging about predictable gimmicks! Welcome to the fifth instalment of this review of the fifth season of Deal or No Deal, which includes the first of the special weeks, Halloween.

Week 9

The Banker described Laura from Durham perfectly: ‘she’s like honey covered in candy floss, because it makes you puke.’ She brought a soft toy duck called Harold with her, and it became part of the game at eight-box when the Banker said he would double the offer from £8,000 to £16,000 if she gave him Harold so he could decapitate him. Laura refused the offer and played on. At five-box with £35k and £20k being the only good amounts left, Laura turned down £5,000 and it proved to be a great decision as the two good amounts stayed to the end. The Banker whipped out his ‘old faithful’ £26,000 but it didn’t work on Laura, who went on to become the first person in season 5 to go to the end and win a power five sum!

Greek Cypriot Nicholas was YET ANOTHER HAIRDRESSER! Seriously, in a couple of years’ time everyone in the hair industry will have been on this show. Anyway, despite jumping around the studio like a maniac Nicholas wasn’t having the luckiest of games and by the second break the power five had been wiped out. With £20k, £5k and three blues left at five-box, Nicholas dealt at £3,000. However, the two reds happened to stay to the end and Nicholas could have won £11,000. Some could say it was shear bad luck.

Despite being an old dear, Bessie clearly wasn’t providing Noel with an enjoyable game, as he was even forced to revive the dreaded blue chant (which didn’t work by the way). At five-box, Bessie had £75k and four blues remaining, so the Banker predictably told her that she may have an offer after every box in the next round. Bessie dealt at a three-box offer of £17,500, but when a blue then went, she was offered the Banker’s Gamble, hence rendering a No Deal at that £17,500 offer completely pointless! Bessie didn’t take the Gamble, but it was still a shambles of a game.

Carol’s game wasn’t proving all that exciting (Noel had resorted to randomly asking players where they were from), so when it transpired she was a Status Quo fan there was a predictable outburst of puns which none of the younger viewers got. At eight-box, the Banker offered Carol £22,000, but after some negotiations, he raised it to £26,000. After dealing at that, Carol revealed that she would have taken the £22,000, hence infuriating the Banker. Despite the last two boxes being £20k and £35k, the Banker didn’t offer his Gamble (saving the gimmicks for next week perhaps?). The show ended with a different piece of music, which was presumably a Status Quo song.

Noel and the Banker fell out in Dan’s game over the Banker’s mistake with Carol, prompting Noel to go on one of his prolonged strops. He sat with the pilgrims and even asking one of them to ask Dan the question at the third offer. Meanwhile, Dan’s game wasn’t going well, especially seeing as the power five had disappeared by the second break. Things didn’t improve, and the last two amounts were £1,000 and 50p. Dan turned down £220, but managed to avoid becoming a member of Dennis’s 50p club.

Tantalisingly missing out on Halloween week was Aurora, and it was only her 15th game! Noel kept poking fun at Aurora’s shyness, which was irritating because it’s actually nice to have the occasional player who doesn’t scream after every blue. Sadly though Aurora had the unluckiest game of the season so far. Her highest offer was just £2,500 (which incidentally was her opening offer) and she went on to become the 24th member of the 1p club! Halloween had started early...

Week 9 average payout: £13,750.00
Summary: It was a week which started at one end of the scale (a power five win) and finished at the other end (a 1p win). The games in between were pretty forgettable though.

Week 10: Halloween (Mon to Fri)

Well they haven’t spared any expense for this week of specials. Not only are Noel and the players dressed up in the usual over-the-top gear, but we’ve even got an amended, spooky title sequence and theme, as well as a range of ‘scary’ sound effects and graphics during the game. The studio is designed to look like a haunted house, and the boxes are a weird ghostly colour. There’s even a portrait of all 24 members of the 1p club! At five-box, the player has to choose the ashes of either the Banker’s grandma or his grandpa. One contains a Treat, the other a Trick. As usual, a Treat means the player gets an offer after every box and an additional prize, while a Trick means the Banker looks inside the player’s box (once it’s been escorted to him by Sir Dealalot of the Pound Table).

First up was Hassan, originally from Cyprus. His first offer was a swap, which he declined. As is expected in these special shows, the eight-box offer was awful, so Hassan got to five-box, where the £50k, £15k and three blues were left. Hassan then became the first Halloween player ever to find a TRICK. The Banker claimed there was a red in his box, and offered £9,000. After lots of talk about mind games, the Banker increased it to £9,250, but Hassan still said No Deal. Left at the end were £1 and £15,000, and the Banker offered £1.50, which wasn’t even considered. There was indeed £15,000 in Hassan’s box, so the manufactured wins had started already.

Lollipop lady Lillian had written her sizeable shopping list on a roll of toilet paper. Her five-box set-up included £75k, £35k, £5k and two blues. Then Lillian suddenly announced that before the game she had predicted a win of £75,000. Her chosen urn contained another TRICK, and after seeing the contents of Lillian’s box, the Banker offered £17,500, which Lillian accepted. However, the last two amounts were £750 and £75,000, and there were no prizes for guessing that the Banker’s Gamble was coming. Lillian declined the Gamble, but it transpired the £75,000 was actually in her box!

In David’s game it was revealed that the Banker’s grandpa was named Titus Aduxus, and that the Banker’s family motto is ‘Nil Spankus Bankerus’. At five-box, David still had the £250k in play, along with £20k, £15k, £10k and £750. And for a third time in a row, a TRICK was found. The Banker claimed there was a red in David’s box, and made an offer of £15,000. Then a minute later he increased it to £30,000. Then a minute later he increased it to £40,000. David unsurprisingly chose to deal at that, but the £250,000 stayed to the end with £15,000, and the final offer would have been £100,000. Then a hypothetical swap was carried out and David’s new box contained £15,000. Is it just me or is this show edging worryingly close to another Alice-esque manufactured jackpot win?

Noel started Sarah’s game by trying to wreck the studio after David’s mistake yesterday. Sarah’s lucky number was 5, so it featured heavily in all the offers. At five-box she had £100k, £20k, £15k and two blues on the board, and she managed to find a TREAT. Her treat was a weekend spa break for two, and she was offered £15,555. After turning it down, the £15,000 left the board, and the new offer was £17,555. Then the guaranteed offers started flowing but as usual they didn’t work and Sarah still dealt at £17,555. She could have won £25,000, in what wasn’t an exciting game.

The last Trick or Treat player was Gary, who straight away launched into the story of how he once saved a woman from a fire. It would have been more impressive if he wasn’t a trained fire-fighter. Gary’s five-box consisted of £50k, £5k, £3k and two blues, and he was able to find a TREAT. The ‘treat’ however was - wait for it - a balloon flight. Gary turned down £7,000, but then the £50,000 left the game. Suddenly the ballooning trip looked like a decent prize. £900 was refused, then the £3,000 went and Gary was offered £1,300. Then the Banker asked if he could look in the box and Gary agreed. Unsurprisingly, the Banker claimed the £5,000 was in his box. Gary turned down the £1,300, and £5,000 and £750 were the last two amounts. The Banker offered £4,000, which going by percentage of mean is the best offer in the show’s history. Gary snapped it up in an instant. Unsurprisingly (in my opinion), his box actually contained the blue, and Noel called it one of the ‘best player victories ever’. Codswallop.

We were back to normality on Sunday, when Roli, a baker from Suffolk, took to the Chair. As with all games in the show’s history which have featured a baker, there was no shortage of bread-related buns - I mean puns. Roli wasn’t having the best of luck, and at five-box £50,000 was the only decent amount left. Then the Banker told Roli that he would only need to open two more boxes before getting another offer. How original. Roli decided to go on, and he took the three-box offer of £7,000. However the £50,000 was in his box. You know it’s been a dull game when the puns were the highlight.

Week 10 average payout: £16,842.50
Halloween average payout: £18,811.00
Summary: The Halloween specials were about as bad as expected. If the Banker’s going to use gimmicks, then he could at least start using some unpredictable ones.

SEASON 5 AVERAGE PAYOUT AS OF THE END OF WEEK 10: £10,030.14

Thanks again for reading. The next edition will kick off with the fourth anniversary special, so expect more whinging about predictable gimmicks! ]]> Abaca http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3061 GP Abu Dhabi 2009 http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3060 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:00:52 GMT Yet another race a long way away at a funny time to suit the European viewer.

Watching it, there's no atmos.

Like Singapore, Bahrain,or even Valencia.

Gradually, China and Malaysia are becoming classic races.

Hungary is fantastic! now...

Why do we have so many races that are as interesting to watch as "Ridge Racer"?

I didn't tape it and TBH missed little.

It's been a great season though - this is the season Jaguar would have wanted!

The BBC coverage has been quite good, though maybe with more than one person on a pitwalk they are somewhat pushing it.

Above all, JL is not James Allen! ]]> patpending http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3060 Clothes Clothes Clothes http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3058 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:05:43 GMT I hate them, I hate that the size you are isn't the same in different shops. Why?! :mad: Also I'm not that big so how do bigger girls get clothes and I can't?

I'd become a nudist if I was good looking enough. ]]> Rachmeister http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3058 SKY Channels, etc; ................The other side! http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3056 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:05:55 GMT The Late and Early show, or as I now call it the L8 'N' Early Show will take on a whole new look as of the new year Splitting it into four weekly sections hosted by four different presenters.
IE;
Week #1 Myself
Week #2 Stevie Burnett
Week #3 Myself
Week #4 Norm Dunc
Eventually our Becca Lewis will take over Week#3
once she has settled in.

Well into year six of the thread and after a short while of thinking it might all dry up there is light at the end of this recession which hopefully bring some more movement, TV wise.

Well the nights are drawing in now, boo :(:( but kissymas and New Year is not far away now, hooray:D

Sam had a blast down at Ascot she did really well but came home with a stinking cold poor thing:( ]]> Radio Ruderham http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3056 SKY Channels, etc; ................The other side! http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3055 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:05:08 GMT The Late and Early show, or as I now call it the L8 'N' Early Show will take on a whole new look as of the new year Splitting it into four weekley sections hosted by four different presenters.
IE;
Week #1 Myself
Week #2 Stevie Burnett
Week #3 Myself
Week #4 Norm Dunc
Eventually our Becca Lewis will take over Week#3
once she has settled in.

Well into year six of the thread and after a short while of thinking it might all dry up there is light at the end of this recession which hopefully bring some more movement, TV wise.

Well the nights are drawing in now, boo :(:( but kissymas and New Year is not far away now, hooray:D

Sam had a blast down at Ascot she did really well but came home with a stinking cold poor thing:( ]]> Radio Ruderham http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3055 Ready for off! http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3054 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:13:24 GMT Well, on Saturday I'm driving down to Gatwick. It's strange really, the closer I get to going the less I want to go. On the other hand, once I get on the plane I do get a bit excited. I suppose it's the actual travelling I don't really enjoy.

Once I arrive at the house and see Jane for the first time in a month I am very happy, and knowing I am there for a few weeks calms me down.

The thing I most look forward to is organizing meals for the next few weeks, and having the time to plan and cook them! Some may find that sad, I find it very relaxing, each to their own I suppose.

I love having a mooch around supermarkets and local shops while i'm over there. They also have a cracking farmers market on Saturday mornings.

Americans aren't much different to us when it comes down to it, at least the foodies aren't! ]]> indianwells http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3054 Been a long time http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3053 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:51:34 GMT Life is so hectic at the moment! I have not been blogging in a big rush of job applications, flat hunting and general running around! It is odd but even the shortest entries seem to take me forever to do. Like this one - Whilst doing it i have ironed a shirt, made tea, shouted at the dog and sent a text. I am really looking forward to de cluttering my life so I have time to write more. I like writing on here and keep seeing things or hearing things or experiencing things that I want to write about. Maybe I will be back to once a day posts soon! Life is so hectic at the moment! I have not been blogging in a big rush of job applications, flat hunting and general running around!
It is odd but even the shortest entries seem to take me forever to do. Like this one - Whilst doing it i have ironed a shirt, made tea, shouted at the dog and sent a text.
I am really looking forward to de cluttering my life so I have time to write more. I like writing on here and keep seeing things or hearing things or experiencing things that I want to write about. Maybe I will be back to once a day posts soon! ]]> vigilantduck http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3053 GP Brazil 2009 http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3052 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:11:23 GMT What a race! still reeling from it. After being written off in the low midfield Button storms up into the points.

Reminds me of Schumacher's last stand though fortunately no advertising hoardings fell down today.

All that overtaking! I expect Jean Todt will try to change that next year. ;)

Look at that pitlane: Brawn go from last to first! what a fairy story! How strange to think that Brawn's ancestor BAR bragged how well it could do and never did...

and the moment where Button takes the chequered flag - JL's commentary is worthy of the moment.

Best season for ten years, surely. Roll on Abu Dhabi and 2010! ]]> patpending http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3052 Stick Rick - Hes Never Gonna Give You Up http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3051 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:58:31 GMT

:cool:
/|\
/\
STICK RICK
He's Never Gonna Give You Up.

]]> CheeseyDude1337 http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3051 <![CDATA['Ere, 'asn't it gone dark quick?]]> http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3049 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:28:44 GMT I'm sitting typing this on my phone from the bus, waiting for it to leave to take us home again. But it's really dark.
Now, that's as much to do with the downpour that's going on outside, but also underlines what we were talking about in the office half an hour ago or so, between flow charts and databases. This weekend the clocks go back.

Is it me or has this come round rather quickly? It only seems like five minutes ago when it was glorious Summer, and bright sunshine at 9pm. Winter's certainly coming, that's for sure.

I suppose it shouldn't be a shock - we've had the BTCC and F1 Championships decided, Town are out of the Johnstone's Paint Pot and A1GP's in trouble. But as I get older, I realise just what a chore life is.

Same old routine, one year to the next. "Same shit, different day" as someone once put it. God it's depressing. In bed last week I sat there one night just contemplating the finality of death. If the religious-types are wrong, then we're there one minute and gone the next.

We won't be able to appreciate whatever we did in life - none of this really matters.! Horrible thought, isn't it? Almost a reason to find religion - give you a bit of hope.

Anyway, we're moving now. Just like yesterday. Last week. Last year... ]]> TMLS313 http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3049 <![CDATA[She's got me shaking]]> http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3048 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:30:18 GMT Today I had the pleasure of leaving my desktop and venturing outside, in pursuit of a new mouse. I have been needing one for about a week now, as my last one was just a bit overused.

Gayly, I bounced out of my front door singing Esmee Dentons (spelling) Get me outta here to myself, which had just been playing on the radio. Yes, I was in a great mood. My flatmate was driving.

So, eventually, still in a great mood, we approached the local retail park and decided that our first stop would be Currys. It was closest to where we parked.

We entered the very dull store and headed right to where the computer mice were. It was immediately apparant just how old my mouse at home was, they don't make them like that any more. Well, they were mostly all wireless.

Not being one to adapt to change very well, I had made up my mind that I wanted one with a cord, and began rummaging through the stacks of wireless ones until a sales person approached us and asked if we needed any help. "No thanks, I am just deciding which mouse to get." I told him. He smiled and walked off.

One minute later, a different sales person approached us and picked up the mouse I was looking at. "Do you need any help here?" She asked, smiling. I smiled back.

"Well, I was considering getting that mouse" I pointed to what she was holding. "I really don't want a wireless one." The nice sales lady asked me if I was on a desktop or notebook and I told her it was a desktop. She recommended the mouse, I agreed and then we both headed to checkout where I paid for it, and happily left the store.

When I got home, I was absolutely frustrated at the packaging on this mouse. It may as well have been sealed in bloody concrete!

After a struggle, and some help with an extra large pair of scissors, I finally ripped it from its packaging and was horrified to see that the cord on this mouse was ... not very long at all! Around 20 inches ...

My first reaction was to take it back, get a refund and buy a different mouse, so, again, I bounced out of the house, happy as could be and we headed back to Currys.

I walked in there smiling, to the checkout where a different lady stood. She was frowning as I placed my bag on the counter which contained the mouse and receipt.

"I won't be able to give you a refund after you've destroyed the packaging like that, we won't be able to resell it." were her words. I was utterly shocked.

"There is no other way to get the product without doing that to the packaging" I told her. "It is actually ridiculous"

Then she asked me why I was returning it and I told her the cord is far, far too short. She glared at me before telling me that it was standard size so I burst out laughing and disagreed. I told her that I have never in my life seen a mouse wire as short as that. This frumpy lady thought she knew better though. She challenged me to come and observe as she opened up a *standard mouse with cable*.

The look on her face was priceless as the long, snake-like cord, which seemed metres long dangled from the box. "There you go." I said.

Still sticking to her guns, she insisted that I would not get a refund for this reason, and we began a small argument. All after she was proved wrong about the *standard size* of a mouse cable.

I soon became furious and asked if she was manager. She said she was not and I muttered "Good!" which clearly roused her. "Have you worked here long?" I asked, to which she replied she had worked there for TEN YEARS. This left a lot for me to say but I just said "WOW" rather loud, as it was really surprising. I could have stood there for longer arguing but the lady who initially sold me the mouse walked past. By this point I was shaking with anger, and it was noticable that the frumpy lady was as well. [[[I know I should not have gotten as worked up as this but this lady was clearly very wrong, did not want to give a refund and it became obvious as to why, after ten years, she did not have any promotions.]]]

She asked if everything was alright and I told her NO, this frumpy lady was very unprofessional. Then the two sales people started disagreeing about the *standard* size of a mouse cable, STILL, AFTER SELF OWNING HERSELF.

Utterly unbelievable.

Eventually, we agreed to disagree that it was misinformed sales advice as the reason for the refund. I snatched my money out of her hand after she had asked for my name, postcode and adress (as though she was coming after me to smash my windows). She asked me to sign the receipt and passed me the pen with a shaky hand. I took the pen, also with a shaky hand and scribbled my signature then left the store, never to return!

I walked next door after a huge sigh of relief and bought a wireless mouse from Comet, and it works perfectly.

So, sales advisors out there. Please, please, please leave people to make up their minds about which product they want and remember .. the customer is always right. ]]> Mulux http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3048 <![CDATA[Deal or No Deal Season 5 Review: Weeks 7 & 8 (Oct 5 - Oct 18)]]> http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3047 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:04:36 GMT Welcome to the fourth instalment of this review of the fifth season of Deal or No Deal. *_Week 7 _* After 23 games of being one of the most annoying contestants ever, *Russ* finally played on Monday. He explained the origins of his animal noises, and treated us to a painful medley before a box had even been opened. He even had a typed list of all the animal noises he could make. Noel predictably got the box openers to make their own animal impressions, while the Banker kindly made Russ an opening offer of ‘Therapy’. Russ should have taken it, as he later agreed to perform the 1p kiss to the tune of the Birdie Song. In what was the most excruciating game of all time, Russ dealt at a poultry eight-box offer of £5,000, and we didn’t really care whether it turned out to be a good deal as we were just glad the game was over. With Russ now safely out of the studio, we could attempt to enjoy *Kerry*’s game. However, Russ’s legacy lived on as everyone sung one of his songs before the first break. During the second break, a member of the pilgrims complained that they couldn’t always see the box being opened because Noel stood in the way, so Noel let the pilgrim stand on her chair for the next box opening. Kerry claimed that she’d seen every show, so the Banker tested her knowledge but when she got a question about Laura Pearce’s game wrong, the Banker allegedly swore at her. She dealt at a five-box offer of £6,000, but could have won £17,500. Noel must have been looking forward to *Mary*’s game, as we know he likes his old dears. Mary ticked many of the ‘old dear’ boxes, including ‘husband of over 50 years’ and ‘health-related aspirations’, but sadly her picking of boxes wasn’t as good as her ticking of boxes, as £15,000 was the highest amount left at eight-box. An offer of 64p was easily rejected, and then an all-blue round produced an offer of £3,000. Then the inevitable happened as the Banker revealed he would make an offer after every box. Mary rejected £4,100 and £3,800, and the last two amounts were £5 and £15,000. The Banker made an excellent offer of £7,000, which Mary unsurprisingly took. As her box had the £5, it was a Banker spanking. *Stephen*, who looked rather like the Stephen from March earlier this year, had once been a bodyguard for Jordan. However he wasn’t having the breast of luck as he eliminated the power five in the first ten boxes. Stephen wanted the money to upgrade his gold tooth to a platinum one, and at five-box, the £20k and £15k were still there. Stephen rejected an offer of £3,250, and the last two amounts were £500 and £20,000. For some reason, the Banker stuck at £3,250, so it was an easy No Deal. Stephen declined the swap but unfortunately there was just £500 in his box. What a boob of a game. *Martin*, a car salesman from County Durham, stalled straight away as he found the £250k in the first box. He was one of those players who, because he looked very young, was constantly teased by Noel and the Banker about being aged 7. At five-box, £35k and £10k were left alongside 3 blues, and the Banker offered a miserly £2,500. Martin refused it and was left with a £1/£35,000 finish. Just like yesterday, the final offer was very low, this time being £6,100, and just like yesterday, it was rejected. Once again the swap was declined, and Martin was devastated to learn his box contained £1. *Ginette*, originally from Mauritius, had a typically dull Sunday game in which she was offered £9,000 three times. Then when the fourth offer was an increase to £10,000, Ginette was happy to deal despite the promise of £30,000 should she have an all-blue round. In the end she could have won as much as £20,000, but luckily there was just a blue in her box. Her £10,000 win was actually the highest of the week. *Week 7 average payout: £4,750.17 Summary*: A very disappointing week full of low offers, low payouts and the most irritating contestant for a long time if not ever. *_Week 8_* Despite having a moving sob story about her late partner, *Sharna* was annoyingly loud during her game. At eight-box with the two biggest amounts still left, Sharna refused an offer of £20,000. The £100k went in the next round but the £250k remained, so the Banker offered £17,500. With hardly any thinking time at all, Sharna decided to take the money and run, and it was the right decision as there were just two blues left at the end. If this game will be remembered for anything, it will probably be the number of times Sharna said ‘Oh my God’ during it. *Michelle* was yet another mobile hairdresser – we seem to have had a lot of those recently. Her game was filled with references to a hole in her garden which badly needed filling. She had a terrible third round, in which she took out £250k, £75k and £50k. Then when the £100k went in the next round, her fourth offer was just £100 and a bag of gravel. The bad run continued and at five-box she had just £5k, £3k and three blues remaining. £250 was a fairly easy No Deal, and the last two amounts were £5,000 and the dreaded 1p. £750 was another easy No Deal, but then she swapped for the Death Box, which ironically contained 1p! Hence Michelle became the 23rd occupant of the infamous barge. The Banker decided to ‘play dirty’ with 80-year-old *Sid* by making a first offer of just £800 despite a decent opening round. Sid didn’t seem too bothered, and instead decided to try coming onto Aurora, one of the more elegant players on the wings. At eight-box the Banker offered an impressive £22,000, but Sid claimed he was going to the end. Unfortunately, the next round did a lot of damage and at five-box Sid had £50k and £10k accompanied by three low blues. The offer was £6,000, but when the Banker figured Sid was going to say No Deal, it was increased to £7,500. This still didn’t tempt Sid as he declined it. £10,000 and 50p stayed to the end, and once again Sid stuck to his word and declined £4,000. For once it paid off, as Sid won £10,000! Air-hostess *Kate* came across to the Banker as strong and steely, so to try and upset her the Banker showed everyone the end of Martin’s game (Martin who hilariously - I mean devastatingly - won £1 last Friday). It didn’t work, as Kate claimed that Martin had later won £40 on a Deal or No Deal scratch card. Her screaming was very shrill, and even Noel was putting his fingers in his ears when a blue was revealed. Kate’s fourth offer was the same as Sid’s: £22,000. Unlike Sid, Kate decided to accept the offer. The £250k went in the next box, producing the shrillest scream of the game. She quietened down somewhat when the last two amounts turned out to be £50k and £35k, the latter of which was in her box. The Banker then phoned and revealed that Kate’s win meant that he has now shed over £18million. *Marie* from Wales turned out to be one of the many budding poets that have appeared on the show, as she had prepared a poem for the Banker. The Banker then returned the compliment with a better one. Marie’s game started very strongly, but it turned around somewhat and at five-box £50,000 was the only notable sum left. After hearing the offer of £1,500, Marie enquired about how often she’d had the £50,000 and the 1p in her box. The Banker revealed she’d had them both once. Marie then declined £1,500, but unfortunately the £50,000 went and the 1p stayed alongside £100. She said No Deal to £11 but was denied the chance to join the barge. *Cal*, a professional waiter and pigeon-impressionist from Liverpool, was one of those players who always tried to open more boxes when it was time for the Banker to call. It never fails to amaze me how many players do this. The game itself was pretty poor, with £100,000 being the only decent amount left at eight-box. After careful consideration, Cal turned down £5,250 and it was the right decision as the £100k stayed and the next offer was £9,000. Cal chose to deal at this, which was good as the £100k went in the final round. There was £50 in his box which meant a Banker spanking, although that didn’t stop the game from being dull. *Week 8 average payout: £9,766.67 Summary*: Another mixed bag of games, with Michelle’s 1p win and the Banker’s £18million milestone being the most notable events. *SEASON 5 AVERAGE PAYOUT AS OF THE END OF WEEK 8: _£8,713.61_* Thanks for reading. The first of the special weeks will feature in the next instalment so hopefully that will liven things up, albeit probably in a bad way... Welcome to the fourth instalment of this review of the fifth season of Deal or No Deal.

Week 7

After 23 games of being one of the most annoying contestants ever, Russ finally played on Monday. He explained the origins of his animal noises, and treated us to a painful medley before a box had even been opened. He even had a typed list of all the animal noises he could make. Noel predictably got the box openers to make their own animal impressions, while the Banker kindly made Russ an opening offer of ‘Therapy’. Russ should have taken it, as he later agreed to perform the 1p kiss to the tune of the Birdie Song. In what was the most excruciating game of all time, Russ dealt at a poultry eight-box offer of £5,000, and we didn’t really care whether it turned out to be a good deal as we were just glad the game was over.

With Russ now safely out of the studio, we could attempt to enjoy Kerry’s game. However, Russ’s legacy lived on as everyone sung one of his songs before the first break. During the second break, a member of the pilgrims complained that they couldn’t always see the box being opened because Noel stood in the way, so Noel let the pilgrim stand on her chair for the next box opening. Kerry claimed that she’d seen every show, so the Banker tested her knowledge but when she got a question about Laura Pearce’s game wrong, the Banker allegedly swore at her. She dealt at a five-box offer of £6,000, but could have won £17,500.

Noel must have been looking forward to Mary’s game, as we know he likes his old dears. Mary ticked many of the ‘old dear’ boxes, including ‘husband of over 50 years’ and ‘health-related aspirations’, but sadly her picking of boxes wasn’t as good as her ticking of boxes, as £15,000 was the highest amount left at eight-box. An offer of 64p was easily rejected, and then an all-blue round produced an offer of £3,000. Then the inevitable happened as the Banker revealed he would make an offer after every box. Mary rejected £4,100 and £3,800, and the last two amounts were £5 and £15,000. The Banker made an excellent offer of £7,000, which Mary unsurprisingly took. As her box had the £5, it was a Banker spanking.

Stephen, who looked rather like the Stephen from March earlier this year, had once been a bodyguard for Jordan. However he wasn’t having the breast of luck as he eliminated the power five in the first ten boxes. Stephen wanted the money to upgrade his gold tooth to a platinum one, and at five-box, the £20k and £15k were still there. Stephen rejected an offer of £3,250, and the last two amounts were £500 and £20,000. For some reason, the Banker stuck at £3,250, so it was an easy No Deal. Stephen declined the swap but unfortunately there was just £500 in his box. What a boob of a game.

Martin, a car salesman from County Durham, stalled straight away as he found the £250k in the first box. He was one of those players who, because he looked very young, was constantly teased by Noel and the Banker about being aged 7. At five-box, £35k and £10k were left alongside 3 blues, and the Banker offered a miserly £2,500. Martin refused it and was left with a £1/£35,000 finish. Just like yesterday, the final offer was very low, this time being £6,100, and just like yesterday, it was rejected. Once again the swap was declined, and Martin was devastated to learn his box contained £1.

Ginette, originally from Mauritius, had a typically dull Sunday game in which she was offered £9,000 three times. Then when the fourth offer was an increase to £10,000, Ginette was happy to deal despite the promise of £30,000 should she have an all-blue round. In the end she could have won as much as £20,000, but luckily there was just a blue in her box. Her £10,000 win was actually the highest of the week.

Week 7 average payout: £4,750.17
Summary: A very disappointing week full of low offers, low payouts and the most irritating contestant for a long time if not ever.

Week 8

Despite having a moving sob story about her late partner, Sharna was annoyingly loud during her game. At eight-box with the two biggest amounts still left, Sharna refused an offer of £20,000. The £100k went in the next round but the £250k remained, so the Banker offered £17,500. With hardly any thinking time at all, Sharna decided to take the money and run, and it was the right decision as there were just two blues left at the end. If this game will be remembered for anything, it will probably be the number of times Sharna said ‘Oh my God’ during it.

Michelle was yet another mobile hairdresser – we seem to have had a lot of those recently. Her game was filled with references to a hole in her garden which badly needed filling. She had a terrible third round, in which she took out £250k, £75k and £50k. Then when the £100k went in the next round, her fourth offer was just £100 and a bag of gravel. The bad run continued and at five-box she had just £5k, £3k and three blues remaining. £250 was a fairly easy No Deal, and the last two amounts were £5,000 and the dreaded 1p. £750 was another easy No Deal, but then she swapped for the Death Box, which ironically contained 1p! Hence Michelle became the 23rd occupant of the infamous barge.

The Banker decided to ‘play dirty’ with 80-year-old Sid by making a first offer of just £800 despite a decent opening round. Sid didn’t seem too bothered, and instead decided to try coming onto Aurora, one of the more elegant players on the wings. At eight-box the Banker offered an impressive £22,000, but Sid claimed he was going to the end. Unfortunately, the next round did a lot of damage and at five-box Sid had £50k and £10k accompanied by three low blues. The offer was £6,000, but when the Banker figured Sid was going to say No Deal, it was increased to £7,500. This still didn’t tempt Sid as he declined it. £10,000 and 50p stayed to the end, and once again Sid stuck to his word and declined £4,000. For once it paid off, as Sid won £10,000!

Air-hostess Kate came across to the Banker as strong and steely, so to try and upset her the Banker showed everyone the end of Martin’s game (Martin who hilariously - I mean devastatingly - won £1 last Friday). It didn’t work, as Kate claimed that Martin had later won £40 on a Deal or No Deal scratch card. Her screaming was very shrill, and even Noel was putting his fingers in his ears when a blue was revealed. Kate’s fourth offer was the same as Sid’s: £22,000. Unlike Sid, Kate decided to accept the offer. The £250k went in the next box, producing the shrillest scream of the game. She quietened down somewhat when the last two amounts turned out to be £50k and £35k, the latter of which was in her box. The Banker then phoned and revealed that Kate’s win meant that he has now shed over £18million.

Marie from Wales turned out to be one of the many budding poets that have appeared on the show, as she had prepared a poem for the Banker. The Banker then returned the compliment with a better one. Marie’s game started very strongly, but it turned around somewhat and at five-box £50,000 was the only notable sum left. After hearing the offer of £1,500, Marie enquired about how often she’d had the £50,000 and the 1p in her box. The Banker revealed she’d had them both once. Marie then declined £1,500, but unfortunately the £50,000 went and the 1p stayed alongside £100. She said No Deal to £11 but was denied the chance to join the barge.

Cal, a professional waiter and pigeon-impressionist from Liverpool, was one of those players who always tried to open more boxes when it was time for the Banker to call. It never fails to amaze me how many players do this. The game itself was pretty poor, with £100,000 being the only decent amount left at eight-box. After careful consideration, Cal turned down £5,250 and it was the right decision as the £100k stayed and the next offer was £9,000. Cal chose to deal at this, which was good as the £100k went in the final round. There was £50 in his box which meant a Banker spanking, although that didn’t stop the game from being dull.

Week 8 average payout: £9,766.67
Summary: Another mixed bag of games, with Michelle’s 1p win and the Banker’s £18million milestone being the most notable events.

SEASON 5 AVERAGE PAYOUT AS OF THE END OF WEEK 8: £8,713.61

Thanks for reading. The first of the special weeks will feature in the next instalment so hopefully that will liven things up, albeit probably in a bad way... ]]> Abaca http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/blog.php?b=3047